×

Man pleads in drug ring case

YOUNGSTOWN — A Mineral Ridge man, one of four men indicted in federal court for operating an a cocaine ring in Mineral Ridge, on Thursday pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Nicholas A. Anderson, 33, entered his plea via video and will be sentenced May 20 by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko.

The other defendants, Vincente R. Turner, 43, of Youngstown, Christopher J. Anderson, 36, of Mineral Ridge and Kenneth P. Mazurkiewicz, 53, of Lanterman Road, Austintown, all had their pretrial hearings continued last week, with records showing a new trial date to be scheduled with the court.

A federal indictment in the case charged Nicholas A. Anderson and three others with conspiring to sell cocaine for distribution in the Mineral Ridge area. The indictment charged Mazurkiewicz with facilitating cocaine transactions between Nicholas A. Anderson, Turner and Christopher J. Anderson between September and November 2019.

Investigators used cellphone conversations that used code words to track the conspirators’ activities, the indictment states. Some of the code words used included “jackets,” “tires,” “car payment” and “fire” — all referring to cocaine, drug transactions, locations or payments. For example, “5 tires” meant “five ounces of cocaine,” the document states.

The indictment states that on Oct. 30, 2019, Nicholas A. Anderson possessed about 11 grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia used to prepare cocaine for sale.

The indictment also states Turner had possessed four firearms, including an AR-15 rifle.

All four men, who were named in a 14-count indictment in September, are free after each posting $20,000 bond, court records show.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today